A year later, American Airlines merger or go-it-alone plans coming soon

As the sun began to rise over New York City last Nov. 29, lawyers for American Airlines Inc. electronically filed the necessary papers to launch the largest bankruptcy case ever of a U.S. airline.

A year later, American, parent AMR Corp. and their various subsidiaries have come a long way in remaking the Fort Worth-based carrier.

Officials have almost finished their rewriting of labor contracts. The aircraft fleet is almost set. They almost know what the airline will look like after bankruptcy.